French NBL Next Star sensation Alex Sarr tipped to excel in the NBA as a No.1 draft pick

French star Alex Sarr holds a ‘unique’ skill set and could create NBL history if he ends up at the Atlanta Hawks with the first pick of the NBA draft as he’s been tipped to do so.

Former Perth Wildcat Alex Sarr is being tipped as a potential No.1 NBA draft pick and a key NBL official believes the seven-foot-one Frenchman possesses the “unique” skillset to star in the world’s best basketball league.

GM of NBL Next Stars recruitment – Liam Santamaria – has high hopes that Sarr can create history as the program’s first No.1 draft pick.

The ex-Wildcat, who averaged 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 52 per cent from the field last NBL season, is widely regarded as at least a top three selection in this year’s draft over two days on June 26 and 27.

ESPN recently ranked Sarr at No.1 in its NBA mock draft on a day when the Atlanta Hawks won the draft lottery to secure a shot at top pick.

Santamaria says the Frenchman’s extensive skills package at both ends of the floor gives him a chance to follow in the footsteps of NBA guns like Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren and Evan Mobley.

“Alex has incredible height, length, athleticism and mobility,” Santamaria said.

“He is 7’1 with a 7’5 wingspan and he has the physical tools in place, but he also has a terrific feel and read for the game.

Alex Sarr is set to take the NBA by storm. Picture: Getty Images.

“That allows him to have ab elite defensive impact and he is a world-class rim protector.

“Then offensively he has got a versatile skill set. He is a genuine pick and roll lob threat and there flashes of being a long-term pick and pop threat and he can initiate offence off the bounce.

“For a guy playing at the forward/centre spot at that size who can create for himself and others, he is very unique.

“When you see guys in the NBA like Wemby, Chet and Mobley having a big impact, you can see the potential that Alex has and what has so many teams hoping that they might be able to pick him up.”

Santamaria is one NBL official in the mix to join Sarr on draft night in Brooklyn on June 26, although he refuses to make it about himself.

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Instead, he sees any potential NBA draft night call-up as a reward for the global growth of the NBL’s Next Stars program.

From LaMelo Ball to Australia’s own Josh Giddey, the Next Stars initiative has helped put the NBL on the global basketball map as a respected pathway.

“It’s pretty remarkable to see the success the program has had and the players it has produced in a short period of time,” he said.

“The Next Stars program has produced three NBA draft lottery picks already, a top three pick in Ball and a top 10 pick in Giddey.

“The fact that a number of current Next Stars are a chance of being drafted, including Sarr trying to make history as the program’s first ever No.1 pick, it speaks to the league and the Next Stars being a proven pathway.

Do you think Sarr will go round 1? Picture: Getty Images

“We have a guy who is a chance to be the No.1 pick, so I think it is going to be important to have a presence of some sort, but we’re just going through the process now of exactly who and what that is going to be.”

Just days after the draft, Santamaria will travel to Turkey to scout the Under 17s World Cup.

He hopes to uncover more Next Stars talent to add to the record eight players in the program last season.

“We’re having really positive conversations with a variety of different prospects,” he said.

“And with a number of our teams, who are excited to partner with the program again or for teams who haven’t been involved.

“We’re also having positive talks with guys currently in the draft process who are going to make decisions on what they do, whether that be stay in the draft or pull out.

“So, it’s an exciting couple of weeks ahead as we look to the NBA draft.”

Originally published as French NBL Next Star sensation Alex Sarr tipped to excel in the NBA as a No.1 draft pick